It's a Trap! Scandinavian music journal

New stuff from Börft

Börft Records, the label run by Jonas Svensson of Pogrom as mentioned yesterday, has announced three new releases. First are two modular synth LPs on the UFO Mongo subabel: "Tyglad best" from Henrik N Björkk (MZ.412, Nordvargr, etc.) and Joel Brindefalk's "The cripple"; the third is the Enhänta Bödlar 7" "Tot is tot". Samples and more details here: http://www.borft.com/
Can't say that I'm familiar with any of the artists besides Björkk, but anything Börft-related comes highly recommended to anyone into dark/experimental synth music.

Firefox AK to tour Europe in February

New 2012 tourdates for Firefox AK:

02/10 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE)
02/11 - Debaser, Malmö (SWE)
02/12 - Prinzenbar, Hamburg (GER)
02/13 - Stereo, Nürnberg (GER)
02/14 - Schlafthof, Wiesbaden (GER)
02/15 - Studio 672, Köln (GER)
02/16 - Gleis 22, Münster (GER)
02/17 - Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg (GER)
02/18 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
02/19 - Heimat, Regensburg (GER)
02/20 - Schocken, Stuttgart (GER)
02/21 - Moritzbastei, Leipzig (GER)
02/22 - KFZ, Marburg (GER)
02/23 - tba, Basel (CH)
02/24 - papiersaal, Zürich (CH)
02/25 - Posthof, Linz (AUS)
02/26 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
02/27 - Feierwerk, München (GER)
02/28 - Comet, Berlin (GER)

The Skull Defekts - The black hand

New tunes from The Skull Defekts in drone/duo mode, the first piece of a new upcoming LP trilogy entitled "The black hand" coming out via Riot Season Records.

99 Minutes #18: Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

A new episode of Listen to Norway's excellent podcast series "99 Minutes" is up today and it's a special feature on the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. More here: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011111016263786170748

New album from The Splendor in late November

HOOB Records has confirmed that The Splendor's sophomore album "Delphian Palace" will be released on November 23 and will be celebrated with a show at Amerikabaren in Göteborg on the 25th. Hear sample tunes at the band's website: http://www.thesplendor.nu/

First Aid Kit live review

Under the Radar reports on seeing First Aid Kit headline the Troubadour in LA: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/first_aid_kit_at_the_troubadour/

Modular signs Young Dreams

Modular has picked up Norwegian act Young Dreams and will be releasing their debut album in 2012. The apparently huge band features Matias Tellez alongside members from bands such as Casiokids, The Megaphonic Thrift and Bloody Beach and, if the sample above is any indication, are yet another act playing semi-dreamy tropical pop. Yawn.

Sivert Høyem/Harrys Gym on tour

Sivert Høyem and Harrys Gym are doing a few European dates together:

11/15 - Beatpol, Dresden (GER)
11/16 - Heimathafen, Berlin (GER)
11/18 - Vera, Groningen (NL)
11/21 - Luxor, Køln (GER)
11/22 - Kofmehl, Solothum (CH)
11/23 - Plaza, Zürich (CH)

Ylva Bulldozer video premiere

Ylva Bulldozer is a new project fronted by Simon Norrsveden and their debut single/video "John Wayne Gacy (fast tjej)" is premiering at Gaffa: http://gaffa.se/tv/clip/976
Also streaming at Gaffa, Sophie Zelmani's new video "Free now" which I'm glad to see since it's blocked on YouTube: http://gaffa.se/tv/clip/977

The Sound of Arrows - Wonders (video)

The Sound of Arrows are glossy pop I can get behind; this is their latest video.

Powersolo - Teach you fun (video)

A new video from Powersolo is pretty much always guaranteed to be entertaining and "Teach you fun" is no exception.

Moving forward

Time is fleeting and so is my energy level. As my dayjob and various paid freelance projects become more demanding, my enthusiasm for keeping up with everything and anything wanes. So from now on no more middling mediocrity, no more blog-rock echo-chamber. Besides, there's plenty of other sites for that nowadays. I'm honing my gaze to keep abreast of what's interesting and exciting. You with me?

The Megaphonic Thrift to release new album in February

Norwegian noiserockers The Megaphonic Thrift have confirmed that their new as-yet-untitled album will be released on February 3 via the band's own label New Town Records in collaboration with Tuba Records.

Keuhkot - Puhumatta paras

Finnish weirdness from Keuhkot aka Kake Puhuu off the upcoming album "Laskeutumisalusastia", due out soon via Ektro Records. More samples at SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/ektrorecords

Hymns from Nineveh - Anywhere with you

"Anywhere with you" is the first single from Hymns from Nineveh's upcoming Christmas album "Endurance in Christmas Time".